Work Experience at an Event Yard

[Eventing8]

Does anybody have any recommendations on what eventing yards are good to go to for work experience? I would like to go to somewhere that has a welcoming attitude and not somewhere where they will just treat you like a slave where you get no good real experience as I find its just a waste of my time. My ambition is to be an event rider so im using my free time to go to different yards for a week and get some good useful experience there. I've already been to an International Event Yard and im currently working as a groom for a show jumper (I use my holiday and book a week off to go to these different event yards) so I've had exposure to top competition yards. So was just wondering if anyone has some names of event riders that are good for go to for work experience? Thank you

 

[PorkChop]

Is there anyone in the eventing world that you particularly admire and like the way they ride?

I find your second sentence a little harsh tbh - being an eventing groom is bloomin hard work - if you have the right attitude I find that others will treat you in a similar fashion.

I presume that you are not interested in the yards you have visited, it would be well worth getting some glowing recommendations from those that you have helped at.

 

[Lolo]

Short term work experience is quite hard I think, because if they only have you for a week they can't really use you for big or interesting tasks as they have no idea of your competency. My sister spent the winter as a working pupil and it took 2 or 3 weeks for her to really settle in and get going despite having spent the previous year managing a yard and working full time with horses. And she was still essentially just a groom who then received lessons... You are essentially going to be a slave- up at 6.30am and back in the house 12 hours later, doing all the jobs that mean the pro can get on and do theirs. But actually I know Al loved every second and learnt stupendous amounts by working there. And it cemented to her that she did want this because she would go to sleep looking forwards to the next day despite knowing it was going to be another long one.

As for who, Al spoke to her instructor and said I really want to do a WP stint this winter who do you recommend I speak to. Her instructor then hooked her up with the pro she went to

 

[Pigeon]

I did work experience at an eventing yard when I was 14, and I won't lie, it wasn't great. I know I wasn't capable of riding big eventers and probably not handling youngstock either, but I spent five days hauling rubber matting out of stables and cleaning it. Didn't even see a horse. I weighed about 7 stone, could barely lift the things, and judging by the state of them I can't help thinking that they thought that I was just a convenient bod to do the job that no-one else wanted to. All I learnt from it was that rubber matting was heavy and I didn't want to be a groom!!

My sister did work experience at a 5* hotel with a trekking stables attached, she took her own horse, and all they did was gallop around beautiful countryside with rich and famous hotel customers... And she got to have a go on their PRE stallion. She learnt that Spanish horses are fun and she would happily be a groom.

So I think each experience will be individual! And you might well have to be a slave for a week! I do know some riders don't have the best reputation as employers, and some are meant to be wonderful.

I would probably look at a very keen amateur with facilities or a semi-pro (perhaps someone who is doing one of these Olympic schemes?) and ask if you could stay with them and do all of their chores for a week in exchange for a couple of lessons. They're likely to be more accommodating than a pro with a big yard who will not have any spare time/regimented schedule, and also they can still be successful competitively, and might give you an idea about bridging the gap between amateur and pro.

 

[Lolo]

Thinking more about it, dependent on your age and current job (ie is it a hard to find career job, or something you do sans qualifications) as well, I'd try and save up a month off work somehow and then get a placement for that period of time via strong recommendations of you to the pro. Or find a placement for 3 months + and then quit work for that time... Obviously this is only really doable if your current job is one you could walk back into an equivalent when you leave.

But no matter what, realistically you are going to be a temporary groom who gets lessons, and as they already will have a strong 'team' already you'll go in at the bottom of the pile. Al went over winter when there were fewer horses in work, most of the work was prepping them for the season rather than everything in full swing, and also I think a reduced team of people (she took over from someone who went home for the winter) so got given a fair amount of responsibility very quickly. So it might be worth trying that and going for a 'quiet' period where you do get more 1 on 1 attention- realistically Al would have got half what she did over the summer when there are 20+ horses in full work and competing every weekend.

 

[shampain]

It depends what you want.
- Do you just want a couple of weeks work experience to have a glimpse of life on a high-class professional event yard or
- Do you want to be a working pupil, stay for longer and receive training in return for lessons

If the former, then yes, you will probably spend the week working your backside off for very little return other than the experience yourself. This depends on the rider that you go to, but chances are that they won't have time in just a few weeks to really give you much attention.
If the latter, then I'd suggest not heading to the yard of one of the more famous riders as more often than not they won't be able to give you as much time as those who are lower-profile. Also, if you're looking for riding, in my experience unless you're a cracking rider (I'm not saying you're not as I know nothing about your riding capabilities), it's very unlikely that you'll be able to ride their own horses, so be sure to discuss this first.

Whatever you do, don't be afraid to ask questions and know exactly what to expect when you turn up on day 1.